Chuck E. Cheese: Make your locations “fun for all” and comply with the American with Disabilities Act

We are humbly asking that you will sign this petition to let Chuck E Cheese know that it is a violation of the American Disabilities Act to deny my disabled daughter and her father access to an empty women's restroom.

OUR STORY: My 9 year old, Marley Eschoe, was attending another child’s birthday party at a Chuck E. Cheese location in Georgia this May when her father, Mark Eschoe, who brought Marley to the party, was not allowed to take her into an empty women's restroom, when the men's restroom was occupied.

Marley, who suffers from lupus, had been recently released from a 3 month stay in the hospital after suffering her 2nd stroke in 8 months. She was using a wheelchair and needed assistance walking and going to the restroom. This was one of Marley’s first time out for an event after her hospital stay and our family was so excited for a fun day as we were still adjusting to our “new normal.”

Marley’s father, Mark Eschoe, was denied access to an empty female restroom and told he would have to take his then 8yr old daughter to the men's restroom regardless of it being overcrowded. Knowing that Marley needed to use the bathroom urgently, my husband even requested that a female Chuck E. Cheese employee who was exiting the restroom stand by the door while he took his daughter into the empty female restroom. That request was also denied by Chuck E. Cheese management. Mark informed Chuck E. Cheese management about Marley's medical condition and asked for assistance. The manager’s response was, “I don't care if she has special needs, I’m not going to treat her any differently from my other patron. I’m done with you.” Then, she abruptly walked away after threatening to call the police to have him removed.

Our family was shocked. We informed the national management of Chuck E. Cheese about our experience and the company said it would conduct an internal investigation. After months of “investigating” (which did not include reaching out to us), Chuck E. Cheese informed us that they stood by the local manager who they feel did nothing wrong.

But what Chuck E. Cheese hasn’t said is that not only was the way their employee handled this situation offensive and hurtful to a vulnerable child and her family, it was also illegal. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires access to bathrooms for people with disabilities. We’re concerned that Chuck E. Cheese did not comply with the ADA -- and that other families will be affected by this attitude as well.

We don’t want any other family to have to go through what we went through. We’re asking Chuck E. Cheese to ensure that its locations across the country comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that staff are appropriately trained to handle these situations. Chuck E. Cheese says its a place for “fun for all” -- we’re hoping your company will make this motto a reality.

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Chuck E. Cheese: Make your locations “fun for all” and comply with the American with Disabilities Act